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Glass Hammer
Shadowlands
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Call them classicists.
Glass Hammer indulges, sometimes self-indulges, in classic prog rock sounds but for those who love the genre, “Shadowlands” is tailor-made for them. Featuring precision-crafted musicianship, members of the band show just how adept at their instrument they are.
The highlight of the disc is a surprising one: a cover of the Dan Fogelberg adult-contemporary classic “Longer”, is expanded into just that, going from four and some change minutes to five shy of ten. The closing track “Behind The Great Beyond” breaks the twenty minute barrier and sounds good... But...
But there is a definite sense of being worn out once the disc is done. Did I like it? Sure. Everyone is very talented? No question. But like the wise man once said, “kill your darlings”. And even though I enjoyed that cover of “Longer”, it is so couched and padded that it takes awhile before you even recognize the tune (It’s not without precedent: early Yes was all about elaborating on the material of others).
I cannot help but think that this release could have been stronger if it did change up, every now and again, with shorter, less studious tracks. The vocals have a by rote, performed sound to them; sung but not felt. So in the end, “Shadowlands” is like an epic movie where, sometimes, three and a half hours of drama is an hour too far.
Release Date: January 14, 2004
Tracks: 5 - Time: 58:08
Produced by: Glass Hammer
Format: CD
Website: www.glasshammer.com
Glass Hammer:
Walter Moore: Vocals
Fred Schendel: Guitars / Hammond Organ / Mellotron / Mini-Moog / Synths / Keyboards / Auto Harp / Recorders / Drums /
Steve Babb - Bass / Keys / Mellotron / Analog Synths
Susie Bogdanowicz - Vocals
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